Manually-operable valve for automatic train-control apparatus



Nov. 13 1923. 1,474,187

7 D. ..1. BISSELL, JR

MANUALLY OPERABLE VALVE FOR AUTOMATIC TRAIN CONTROL APPARATUS Filed May L; 1925 Patented Nov. 13, 1923.

UNITED STATES DAVID J BISSELL, JR., OF SPOKANE, WASHINGTON, AS$IGNOR TO OTIS AUTOMATIC TRAIN CONTROL INCORPORATED, OF SPOKANE, WASHINGTON, A CORPORATION or WASHINGTON.

MANUALLY-OPERABLE VAL VE FOR AUTOMATIC TRAIN-CONTROL APPARATUS.

Application filed May 1, 1923.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, DAVID J. BISSELL, Jr., a citizen of the United States, and resident of Spokane, in the county of Spokane and tate of l Vashington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Manually- Operable Valves for Automatic Train-Control Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to automatic train control apparatus of the type including a ramp valve operable by suitable track mechanism to, at predetermined times, cut oil the supply of air to the usual train line or brake pipe and simultaneously vent the lat ter to the atmosphere, thereby to cause an application of the brakes and consequent stoppage of the train, such apparatus being disclosed in my copending application serially numbered.

More particularly my inventionrelates to a manually operable valve that is adapted to be connected with a ramp valve and with the supply and train line pipes of an ordinary air brake system, so that upon its manipula tion, following actuation of the ramp valve,

train line pressure may be prevented from exhausting to the atmosphere and the supply may be placed in communication with the train line whereby the train, instead of being brought to a stop, may proceed and be under the control of the engineman.

My inventive idea is capable of embodiment in difierent mechanical structures, one of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood, however, that the structure illustrated is merely intended as a disclosure of my invention in a form to render its purpose and mode of )peration clear, and that various changes and desirable additions may be made in and to the same within the spirit and scope of my invention as defined in the appended claims.

In the drawings the figure is a diagrammatic view showing my improved valve in section and operatively connected with a ramp valve and with the supply and train line pipes of an ordinary air brake system.

Referring to the drawing in detail, it will be observed that my improved manually operable valve consists of a casing 10 provided with a pair of valve chambers 11 and 12 which valve chambers have arranged there in, respectively, valves 13 and 141111311 are car- Serial No. 635,899.

ried by a common stem 15, whereby they are movable in unison. Surrounding said stem and reacting from the casing against valve 13 is a coil spring 16 that holds said valve normally oil its seat 17 and valve 14; normally closed with respect to a port 18 in the casing that opens intovalve chamber 12.

A knob 19 is provided on stem 15 whereby said stem may be manipulated to seat valve 13 and simultaneously move valve 14 to uncover port 18, in which event communication'will be established through valve chamber 12 between'port 18 and another port 20. Normally, however, spring 16 urges valve 13 ofif its seat, 17 and valve 14 closed with respect to port 18, thereby normally to provide communication through valve chamber 11 between a port 21 and an atmospherically opening port 22, and at the same time deny communication between ports 18,20. 7

The ramp valve with which my improved manually operable valve is adapted for association may be of any preferred construction, its only essentials being that in the first instance it establishes communication normally between the usual supply and train line pipes and deny communication of the train line pipe with my manually operable valve, and in the second instance, when it is actuated by a ramp device, that it place the train line in communication with my manu-' ally operable valve. To this end said ramp valve is shown as including acasing 23 within which is rotatabl mounted a plug 245, which plug is provi ed with a pair of relatively communicating ports 25, 26 adapted in a. normal position of the plug to aline respectively with a pair of ports 27, 28 in the casing 23, and in a ramp actuated position of the plug to aline respectively with a port 29 also formed in the casing and aforesaid port 27. Depending from the plug 24 is a shoe 30 that is adapted for contact with a ramp devicev thereby to actuate the plug from its normal position to aline ports 25, 26 with ports 29, 27.

Connecting port 29 of the ramp valve with port 21 of my-manually operable valve is a pipe 31, while connecting port 28 of the ramp valve with a suitable source of pressure supply is a pipe 32, which pipe 32 is connected by a branch pipe 33 with, port 20 of, my

manually operable valve. The train line pipe 3% is connected by a branch pipe with port 27 of the ramp valve and by another branch pipe. 36 with port 18 of my manually operable valve. 7

In view'oi the foregoing, the operation of my invention is apparent and as follows: Upon actuation of the shoe 30 of the ramp va-lveto aline ports 25-, 26 in the plug with ports 29, 27 in the casing, pipe 31 is placed in communication through said ports with pipe 35, and as a consequence, the air pressure in the train line pipe is vented to the atmosphere through the normally open port 22 in the manually operable valve. Thus the brakes will be applied and the train brought to a stop unless the engineman is alert and ,manipulates' the manually operable valve to seat valve 18 and close port 22 and thus prevent the escape of train line pressure. If valve 13 is seated, valve 14:

, simultaneously is opened with respect to ports 18, 20 and communication thus is restored between the supply pipe and the train line,

whereby the control of the train is restored to the engineinan. Preferably a speed con trol valve is associated with pipe 31, so that been shown.

I claimz' 1 In automatic train control apparatus, thefcoinbination With the train pipe and the supply pipe of an ordinary air brake system,

of means automatically operable at predetermined times to cut oil the supply to and vent said train pipe, and a valve device manually operable .and effective following operation of said automatic means, to prevent venting of the train pipe through said automatic means and to simultaneously place the supply p1pe 1n communication with the v train pipe.

2. ln automatic train control apparatus, the combination with the train pipe of an ordinary air brake system, of a valve in cluding means constantly urging the same to open position, and means automatically operable at predetermined times to vent the train pipe through said valve, the latter being manually operable to closed position and when so operated being held closed by the pressure of fluid in said train pipe.

3. In automatic train control apparatus, the combination with the train pipe of an ordinary air-brake system, of a valve ineluding a spring constantly urging the same to open position, and means automatically operable at predetermined times'to vent the train pipe through said valve, the latter being manually operable to closed position and when so operated being held closed by the pressure of fluid in said train pipe, and adapted to open automatically under the influence ofsaid spring when the pressure of fluid in the train pipe is reduced.

4:. ln automatic train control apparatus,

the combination with the train pipe and the supply pipe of an ordinary air brake system, of a normally open valve and a normally closed valve relatively connected for movement in unison whereby the latter is opened when the former is closed, and means'auto ma tically operable at predetermined times to vent the train pipe'through said normally open valve, the normally closed valve being connected with the supply pipe and the train pipe whereby communication is'e'stablished between these pipes when the nor inallyppen valve is closed.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature,

DAVID J. BISSELL, JR. 

